Modular Motor Vehicle Architecture

ABSTRACT

A modular motor vehicle architecture is provided for motor vehicles of different motor vehicle types, in each case having at least one drive machine and at least one energy storage unit paired with the at least one drive machine. The at least one energy storage unit is received in a modularly designed underfloor energy storage unit assembly that has a plurality of energy storage unit modules, at least one outer dimension of which is standardized. Each vehicle type is paired with one underfloor energy storage unit assembly from a plurality of standardized underfloor energy storage unit assemblies. And, each underfloor energy storage unit assembly has a plurality of unit module installation areas, a longitudinal dimension of which extending in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle is standardized and each of which is designed to receive at least one respective standardized energy storage unit module.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for the temporary andanticipatory accentuation of at least one storage device located in amotor vehicle, a system equipped therewith, and a motor vehicle equippedtherewith.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Accentuators for optically highlighting storage spaces located in aninterior of a motor vehicle are generally known. These have lightingwhich is also switched on at discrete points upon switching on of thevehicle interior light and then are permanently in operation until thevehicle interior light is switched off.

It is the object of the present invention to specify an alternative tothe known accentuator.

This object is achieved by the present disclosure. Advantageousrefinements are also defined in the present disclosure.

According to the invention, a device is provided for the temporary andanticipatory accentuation of at least one storage device, which islocated in a motor vehicle and is operationally connected to at leastone accentuator, and which has a controller at least temporarilyoperationally connected to the accentuator. The controller is in turnconfigured to alternately put the accentuator into operation, change ornot change it during the operation, or take it out of operation based onan accentuation signal output by a computation device, wherein theaccentuation signal represents accentuation interest information. If theaccentuator is out of operation, it is essentially not visible as suchto an observer. In contrast, if the accentuator is in operation, it isthus recognizable by an observer at such a location and/or at such atime at which visibility of the accentuator is desired. The startuptakes place here on the basis of the accentuation interest information,which is based on a known or anticipated behavior of a user and/or theusage context. Furthermore, the accentuation interest information cancontain data which represent user inputs in a correspondingly designedmotor vehicle, a current behavior of a user, a current context of amedia playback, and/or a driving mode, current location data of themotor vehicle, an eye movement of a user over time, and possibly thelocations which he has looked at, or the urgency of the need forstorage. In addition, the accentuation interest information can containdata which have as the subject matter items of information in referenceto the number and position of the user and his movement direction, itemsof information about objects which the user carries with him and theirproperties (in particular their size, weight, format, surface propertiessuch as friction (risk of slipping), sensitivity, in particular topressure, sensitivity to soiling, temperature requirement (in particularwith respect to objects to be stored refrigerated, which cannot bestored in regions lighted by the sun or close to the heater)), source ofthe information, in particular from calendars and/or apps, known habitsof the user, such as in particular the presence of a work bag on the wayto work. Finally, the accentuation interest information can contain datawhich represent items of information on the person of a user aloneand/or possible companions, such as in particular with reference to hisor their height, proportions, age, health condition, and/or physicalrestrictions.

The invention is distinguished in that now a context-sensitiveaccentuation of a storage device is created. It is thus recognized basedon context knowledge whether and where a need for storage exists, and inparticular which properties of this storage (in particular size, shape,necessity for security, and/or sensitivity to soiling) are necessary,based on which a suitable storage is selected. Greater visual calm isadvantageously created in the vehicle interior in this way for the casein which the accentuator is out of operation. In contrast, when theaccentuator is put into operation, it advantageously experiences agreater level of attention by an observer, so that he is capable ofrecognizing a storage device relevant for him more quickly and easily.This applies in particular for the case when he uses a correspondinglyequipped motor vehicle for the first time, in particular in the case ofa car rental, a ridesharing service, or a car sharing service.

It is to be noted that the device according to the invention can also beoperationally connected to a closure located on the storage device, inparticular a lock, and/or a driver. For the case in which an accentuatoris put into operation, it can be provided that the closure and/or thedriver are also put into operation at the same time or with a slighttime delay, in order to not only visually highlight the storage device,but also release it for its use, in particular open it, to thus furtherincrease the level of comfort linked to the device according to theinvention.

According to one preferred embodiment of the device, it is provided thatthe accentuator has at least one light emitter for emitting light, atleast one actuator for changing the surface formation of the storagedevice, and/or at least one sound output device for outputting at leastone tone. In this way it is possible to address the visual perception,the auditory perception, or the acoustic perception of the user, so thatthe device according to the invention can advantageously be used at anytime of the day or night.

A particularly simple structure of the device according to the inventionis advantageously provided if the light emitter is designed at leastpartially as an optical fiber, light-emitting diode, liquid crystaldisplay, or projector, the actuator is designed as a gearing device,vibration device, hydraulic adjustment device, or pneumatic adjustmentdevice, and the sound output device is designed as a loudspeaker. It isto be noted that the mentioned light emitter, actuator, and sound outputdevice can each be covered by a concealment device in such a way thatthey are essentially not recognizable when the accentuator is out ofoperation, but are recognizable when the accentuator is in operation.

The reliability of the device according to the invention isadvantageously further improved if the computation device isoperationally connected to a sensor, preferably a camera, and/or anexternal data source, preferably a mobile communication device, which isin turn configured to detect the approach, movement, and/or distance ofat least one body part of a user and/or an object to be transported. Inother words, it is possible to put the accentuator into operation,change or not change it during the operation, or take it out ofoperation if a computation device outputs a corresponding item ofinformation, the input variables of which are detected by a sensor inparticular in dependence on a viewing direction, a head position, or aposition of another body part of a user. The sensor can be locatedinside the motor vehicle interior or on the outside of the motorvehicle.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the deviceaccording to the invention is equipped with a speech input device, viawhich relevant data for its operation, in particular accentuationinterest information, can be input in a simple manner to alternately putit into operation, change or not change it during operation, or take itout of operation.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the device according to theinvention has a storage device operationally connected to thecomputation device and/or controller, in which items of accentuationinterest information which are current and/or originate from the pastare stored. It is advantageously possible in this way to use or makeusable in particular personalized items of accentuation interestinformation over various motor vehicles.

The controller is configured to control the accentuator with respect toits operating time, operating duration, position, intensity, and/orrange. A high level of versatility of the device according to theinvention is advantageously provided in this way.

The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a system for thetemporary and anticipatory accentuation of at least one storage devicelocated in a motor vehicle, which has at least one device of theabove-disclosed type and a first telecommunication device which can beoperationally connected thereto at least temporarily, and which isconfigured to output items of accentuation interest information to thedevice. It is thus possible in particular that a user transmits desireditems of accentuation interest information via a secondtelecommunication device, in particular a smartphone, to the deviceaccording to the invention in order to accentuate certain or all in amotor vehicle to be used by him according to his wishes. Theaccentuation interest information can be input manually by a user or athird party or can be read in or input automatically. It is obvious thata communication between first telecommunication device and secondtelecommunication device can also be provided bidirectionally.

According to one preferred embodiment, a second telecommunication deviceis located in an object transportable by a user, in particular asuitcase, wherein the first telecommunication device and the secondtelecommunication device can establish an operational connection to oneanother. In other words, it is possible that an object to be transportedcommunicates with the above-disclosed device about items of accentuationinterest information, due to which an automated reconciliation can takeplace between an object to be transported using a motor vehicle and astorage possible for this purpose. The possibility is thusadvantageously provided that a specific storage option for the object tobe transported is automatically displayed by the accentuator to a userof a correspondingly equipped motor vehicle. It is obvious that ifdesired further telecommunication device can also be operationallyconnected to the first telecommunication device. It is thus possible inparticular that a telecommunication device provided in a computingcenter establishes an operational connection to the first and/or thesecond telecommunication device to transmit current and/or stored itemsof accentuation interest information to the controller.

Finally, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a motor vehiclehaving at least one storage device operationally connected to anaccentuator, which has at least one device and/or one system of theabove-disclosed type. The above-mentioned advantages apply adequately.

The motor vehicle according to the invention is advantageouslydistinguished in that at least one storage device is located in themotor vehicle interior and is designed as a side pocket, center console,armrest, foot rest, cup holder, mobile telephone tray, coat hook,pocket, drawer, tensioner, refrigerator, luggage rack, or as a band atleast partially enclosing at least one window surface. However, it isobvious that other storage spaces, which are not mentioned here and arelocated in particular in a luggage compartment or in the front region ofa motor vehicle, can also be provided with a device according to theinvention.

A detailed, non-prejudicing, in particular restricting, description ofan exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided hereinafterwith reference to the attached figure, which is not to scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a part of an interior of a motor vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the single figure, FIG. 1 , a part of a motor vehicle 1, especially apart of its interior 5, is shown in a side view.

An array of storage devices 10 are located in the interior 5, which aredesigned in the exemplary embodiment shown here as a cup holder 10-1,center console 10-2, front side pocket 10-3, rear side pocket 10-4, coathook 10-5, tensioning belt 10-6, rear armrest 10-7, and a mobiletelephone tray 10-8 located thereon.

Furthermore, a device 13 for the temporary and anticipatory accentuationof the storage devices 10, 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4, 10-5, 10-6, 10-7,10-8, which has an array of accentuators 15, is provided in the motorvehicle 1. These accentuators 15 are not recognizable as such in an outof operation state.

Specifically, around the outer edge of the cup holder 10-1, anaccentuator 15-1 enclosing it in the form of a light emitter designed asan optical fiber is arranged.

On the center console 10-2, an accentuator 15-2 is located, whichcomprises, on the one hand, a light emitter enclosing its outer borderor outer edge and designed as an optical fiber, on the other hand, anactuator (not shown in greater detail here), which can geometricallychange the surface of the outer border or the outer edge.

In the upper section of the front side pocket 10-3, an accentuator 15-3designed as an optical fiber is located. In the upper section of therear side pocket 10-4, an accentuator 15-4 also designed as an opticalfiber is located.

The coat hook 10-5 fastened on the B column of the motor vehicle 1 hasan accentuator 15-5 designed as an optical fiber on its circumference.

The tensioning belt 10-6 located in the rear region of the motor vehicle1 is designed as a planar light emitter.

The armrest 10-7 located on the rear seat bench has two accentuator 15,namely an accentuator 15-7, which is flatly formed, is designed havingan actuator (not shown here), and is formed from a textile material, andwhich is provided to accommodate an arm (not shown here), and anaccentuator 15-8, which is located essentially in the middle of theaccentuator 15-7 and is designed as an optical fiber, and which extendsalong the outer edge of the mobile telephone tray 10-8.

Finally, an accentuator 15-9 designed as an optical fiber is provided ineach case on the edges of the windows (windshield, front side window,rear side window, rear window) located on the motor vehicle 1 (not shownin greater detail for reasons of clarity).

Each individual one of the accentuator 15, 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, 15-4, 15-5,15-6, 15-7, 15-8, and 15-9 is operationally connected to a symbolicallyshown controller 20, as is symbolized by the arrow 25 representing anoperational connection. The operational connection 25 can take place inany suitable way, for example, wired or wireless, in particular by aBluetooth connection. The controller 20 is configured to control one,multiple, or all accentuator 15, 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, 15-4, 15-5, 15-6,15-7, 15-8, and 15-9, i.e., to change the time or location of or to keepconstant their switching on or switching off moment, operating time,operating duration, position, surface formation, intensity, or range.

For this purpose, the controller 20 is operationally connected to acomputation device 30, for example a microchip, which is in turnoperationally connected to a sensor 35. The sensor 35 is configured todetect the approach, movement, and/or distance of a body part (not shownhere) of a vehicle occupant, for example, his hand or his face, or of anobject 40 to be transported located outside the motor vehicle 1 and tooutput a signal which represents an item of accentuation interestinformation to the computation device 30.

Finally, an optional first telecommunication device 45 is provided,which is operationally connected to the computation device 30. Items ofinformation transmitted from a second telecommunication device 50 can bereceived by the first telecommunication device 45, which are used tocontrol the accentuator 15. The second telecommunication device 50 can,according to the exemplary embodiment shown here, be designed as asmartphone operable by a user (not shown here), as a telecommunicationdevice located in the object 40 to be transported or on any othersuitable object, or in any other suitable way. It is thus alsoconceivable to provide the second telecommunication device 50 in adifferent institution, for example, a computing center of a car rentalcompany.

However, it is to be noted that the first telecommunication device 45can also be operationally connected directly to the controller 20 whenthe signals transmitted from the second telecommunication device 50 havesuch a character that they are converted directly by the controller 20into control signals.

Finally, the device 10 of the exemplary embodiment shown here has astorage device 55, which is operationally connected to the controller20. Data for controlling the accentuator 15 are stored in the storagedevice 55, which contain, for example, items of historic informationabout an actually desired control of the accentuator 15 by a user.

An exemplary, nonrestrictive usage scenario is described hereinafter:

After a flight, a user (not shown here) reaches an airport, at which hewishes to retrieve a rental car (e.g., reference sign 1 in the figure).The rental car 1 has the accentuator 15 or 15-1 to 15-9 shown in thefigure. These are out of operation when the rental car 1 is turned offand thus do not stand out to an observer of the rental car 1 and itsinterior 5.

The user carries a mobile telephone and a suitcase (e.g., reference sign40) with him, each of which has a second communication device 50. Afterrelease by the renter of the rental car, these communication devicesestablish communication with the first communication device 45, which ispart of a device 13 for the temporary and anticipatory accentuation ofthe above-described accentuator 15. On the way to the rental car 1, theuser buys a beverage in a cup. An item of information representing thesize and shape of the cup is also sent by the seller of the beverage tothe first communication device 45. This information, and the informationthat a single authorized person having a single piece of luggage 40 ofspecific dimensions and weight (this was ascertained beforehand by theairline and transmitted to the second communication device 50 of themobile telephone of the user) and having a mobile telephone is movingtoward the rental car 1, is stored in the storage device 55 of thedevice 13.

On the basis of location data, and assisted by a motion sensor (which isin turn part of a sensor 35 of the device 13) located on the rental car1, when the distance of the user from the rental car 1 falls below aminimum distance, firstly its driver's door is opened, the accentuator15-1 of a cup holder 10-1 provided in the vehicle interior 5 and anaccentuator of a mobile telephone tray (not shown in the figure) locatedadjacent to the cup holder 10-1 are illuminated and the luggagecompartment lid (not shown in the figure) is opened. The user depositshis beverage cup in the cup holder 10-1 and the correspondingaccentuator 15-1 goes out. In contrast, the user keeps his mobiletelephone with him and does not deposit it in the mobile telephone tray;the accentuator of the mobile telephone tray remains illuminated in thiscase.

The user now moves his piece of luggage 40 toward the vehicle rear anddeposits it in the luggage compartment at a point which is indicated byan illuminated accentuator located therein. This point is selected onthe basis of the size and the weight of the piece of luggage 40 in sucha way that the user experiences maximum comfort when housing it in theluggage compartment. To secure the piece of luggage 40 now located inthe luggage compartment, a tensioning belt provided with an accentuatoris illuminated, which is fastened by the user on a correspondingreceptacle. The receptacle itself also has an accentuator, which is onlyilluminated, however, when the user has taken the tensioning belt in thehand. If this tensioning belt is securely held in the correspondingreceptacle, the accentuator of the tensioning belt and the accentuatorof the receptacle are put out of operation. In contrast, if thetensioning belt is not held securely in the receptacle, the twomentioned accentuators change their color from a signal color to a colorrepresenting a warning and a warning tone sounds.

After the piece of luggage 40 is stowed securely in the luggagecompartment, the user moves in the direction of the vehicle front andtakes a seat on the driver's seat. If the user deposits his mobiletelephone on the illuminated mobile telephone tray, the accentuatorlocated here also goes out.

List of reference signs  1 passenger vehicle  5 interior 10 storagedevice 10-1 cup holder 10-2 center console 10-3 front side pocket 10-4rear side pocket 10-5 coat hook 10-6 tensioning belt 10-7 rear armrest10-8 mobile telephone tray 10-9 accentuator at the edges of windowsurfaces 13 device for temporary and anticipatory accentuation 15accentuator 15-1 accentuator of the cup holder 15-2 accentuator of thecenter console 15-3 accentuator of the front side pocket 15-4accentuator of the rear side pocket 15-5 accentuator of the coat hook15-6 accentuator of the tensioning belt 15-7 accentuator of the reararmrest 15-8 accentuator of the mobile telephone tray 15-9 accentuatorat the edges of window surfaces 20 controller 25 operational connection30 computation device 35 sensor 40 object 45 first telecommunicationdevice 50 second telecommunication device 55 storage device x, y, zcoordinates of a vehicle-intrinsic coordinate system according to ISO4130-1978.

1.-14. (canceled)
 15. A modular motor vehicle architecture for motorvehicles of different motor vehicle types with, in each case, at leastone drive unit and at least one energy store assigned to the at leastone drive unit, comprising: a modular designed underfloor energy storeassembly that has a plurality of energy store modules which arestandardized in terms of at least one external dimension, the at leastone energy store being received in the underflow energy store assembly,wherein each motor vehicle type is assigned one underfloor energy storeassembly from a plurality of standardized underfloor energy storeassemblies, and each underfloor energy store assembly has a plurality ofuniform module installation spaces which are standardized in terms of alongitudinal dimension which runs in a longitudinal direction of themotor vehicle, and which are configured to receive, in each case, atleast one standardized energy store module.
 16. The modular motorvehicle architecture according to claim 15, wherein a plurality ofstandardized uniform module installation space regions which lie behindone another are provided in the underfloor energy store assembly in thelongitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.
 17. The modular motorvehicle architecture according to claim 16, wherein the longitudinaldimension, running in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle,of each standardized uniform module installation space regioncorresponds to the longitudinal dimension of the standardized uniformmodule installation space.
 18. The modular motor vehicle architectureaccording to claim 15, wherein the underfloor energy store assembly hasa further uniform module installation space region with at least oneshortened uniform module installation space, the longitudinal dimension,running in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, of thefurther uniform module installation space region and the longitudinaldimension, running in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle,of the shortened uniform module installation space being shorter thanthose of a regular standardized uniform module installation space regionand a regular standardized uniform module installation space,respectively.
 19. The modular motor vehicle architecture according toclaim 16, wherein a middle channel extending in the longitudinaldirection of the motor vehicle is provided which divides the respectiveuniform module installation space region into a left-hand and aright-hand uniform module installation space.
 20. The modular motorvehicle architecture according to claim 15, wherein at least one energystore module is formed by at least one electric battery module or has atleast one electric battery module.
 21. The modular motor vehiclearchitecture according to claim 20, wherein at least one energy storeperipheral unit is provided, which is configured for being received in auniform module installation space, and has electric control and/orregulating devices for the at least one of electric battery module. 22.The modular motor vehicle architecture according to claim 15, wherein atleast one energy store module is formed by at least one liquid fuel tankor has at least one liquid fuel tank.
 23. The modular motor vehiclearchitecture according to claim 22, wherein at least one energy storeperipheral unit is provided, which is configured for being received in auniform module installation space, and has control and/or regulatingdevices for liquid fuel.
 24. The modular motor vehicle architectureaccording to claim 15, wherein at least one energy store module isformed by at least one pressure tank for a gaseous fuel or has at leastone pressure tank.
 25. The modular motor vehicle architecture accordingto claim 24, wherein at least one energy store peripheral unit isprovided, which is configured for being received in a uniform moduleinstallation space, and has control and/or regulating devices forgaseous fuel.
 26. A motor vehicle comprising a modular motor vehiclearchitecture with a modular underfloor energy store assembly accordingto claim
 15. 27. A motor vehicle comprising a modular motor vehiclearchitecture with a modular underfloor energy store assembly accordingto claim 16, wherein the modular underfloor energy store assembly hasthree or more uniform module installation space regions in thelongitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.
 28. A motor vehiclecomprising a modular motor vehicle architecture with a modularunderfloor energy store assembly according to claim 24, wherein at leastone uniform module installation space is configured as a footwell recessin at least one of the uniform module installation space regions.